Overview

Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones

Bass Lovers Rejoice

The new earphones from Westone has powerful bass; it is the first thing you will notice. Vocals are pretty clear and the highs are a bit recessed. It delivers very good sound with plenty of bass but enough clarity that can be compared to some of the balanced armature drivers of the family.

Comfortable and lightweight, it offers the same flush fit that we already know and like from Westone.

The earpiece is made of magnesium, in one entire piece and the cables have a snapping connector. The cables have some texture to it due to the reflective material and are 56" long; about 38" from the plug to the "Y". There are no sliders to push the cables against the back of your head because the Alpha Adventure comes with the iPhone microphone cable which is made to hang in front of you ; the "guide-wire" is covered with a rubber material, very soft and pliable, 3" long from the connector on the earpiece.

The controls work beautifully, the calls are clear and the caller on the other end never complained about background noise or any other issues (tested with the iPhone 5).

The earphones come with a great selection of foam and silicone sleeves (10 pairs) as well as a wax removal tool and a neat round plastic case.

Adventure Series is the culmination of two decades of experience with audio and in-ear monitors. Designed for active users, ADV creates a new category of cross-over earphones that can be enjoyed in any environment.

New Westone Adventure Series

Westone publicly announced on January 22, 2013 their new upcoming Adventure Series earphones. By David Slepak - Westone Marketing Director According to David Slepak, the new Adventure Series is a "unique product for Westone and the marketplace." "A Crossover from taking true audiophile Westone heritage and putting in a product that is designed for true adventure. Super rugged product that features the first injection molded magnesium earpiece. New Adventure Retention system with an up and over cable routed and a rubberized piece in the back." According to Mr. Slepak, the new Westone Adventure earphones will come with the true fit and star tips. It will feature a new 6.5 mm micro-driver featuring PSTT Precision Surface Tuning Technology - "there is some divot within the surface cone that allows tuning bass response, mid range and frequency curves throughout the process." "Unique driver, very small, great ergonomics that delivers a full frequency audiophile sound. Removable cable system AWACS full IPX weather-proof." "Reflective cables that glow at night when lights hit on it." The cables will be removable. 3-button certified microphone Apple compatible with track up, track down, full volume control, Siri control, but no Android version for now. "It will also come with the new Adventure case, rugged and weather-proof so you can travel in style." According to Westone's David Slepak, the new in-ear headphones by Westone will retail for $249. We, at Earphone Solutions, are very excited to test and rate this new Westone earphones when it becomes available. If it indeed keeps Westone's Heritage, I will love it. We will soon find out if the changes were for the better and we will let all our customer and visitors know about our findings!

AWACS Reflective - Adventure Warning and Control System: better visibility in low-light and adverse conditions with a reflective, replaceable cable featuring 3-button control system for iPhone, iPod and iPad.

Reviews

Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones Review by Earphone Solutions

The ADV has some of the best built earpieces. They are very comfortable in the ear and the pre-formed wire are very soft in the skin. The one thing that we don't love about them is the "fabric" reflective cable. It's a nice idea to have that feature as it is designed for runners and at night car headlights will reflect on those cables, however the feeling of that material on the skin is just not the best. Also the way the fabric "behaves" is quite less desirable as the braided cables that come with all other models by Westone. Bass is BIG. Not great definition in the lows but thumping and if driving your running or workout is the idea, these are good. Having said that, they lack the detail and definition of some other models in this price range such as the W10 and Shure SE315.

I bought my Adventure Alpha earphones in September 2014. They get pretty regular use - gym, mountain biking, frequent travel etc. I bought them to replace a set of Jaybyrds which lasted many years until I destroyed them by ripping out a hardwired cable. The Westone earphones are far more comfortable and sound significantly better. I enjoy the bass boost over other flat response studio headphones I use. However, fairly early on the cable mounted controls stopped working. Not really a big deal but annoying. Just after the warranty expired the right earphone started acting up, sound going off and on like a bad connection. I assumed the cable was going bad - Westone didn't have advice to troubleshoot. Two weeks ago I purchased a replacement cable (standard Westone arch cable since I was accustomed to not using the cable controls). The earphones worked flawlessly for a few days. Now the right side is almost entirely out - can hear a very faint signal when at full volume. Disappointed that the warranty period is only 2 years and that I spent $50 on a new cable when it's now clear the earphones need to be replaced. They aren't the most expensive earphones in the world, sound and feel great, but I think they could be a bit more reliable.

Rating

Nickname

Boyd

Summary

Boring Headphones

Location

Temecula, CA

Posted on

5/5/2016

Recommended?

No

After using these ear buds for some time I have come to the conclusion that they sound very flat and are somewhat boring. I would not buy this product again. Pros - Build Fit Case Cons - Sound Quality (Most important)

Rating

Nickname

Mehmet Emin Özmen

Summary

not good

Location

Ankara (TURKEY)

Posted on

7/30/2015

Recommended?

No

I bought ADVENTURE ALPHA ADV EARPHONES for gym. However, right side stop working after two months, I don't know why. Furthermore, it slip over my ears when I run. I am so disappointed. Sounds and isolation are excellent.

Rating

Nickname

Josh

Summary

Great

Location

Long Island, New York

Posted on

5/13/2015

Recommended?

Yes

Love these. Use them regularly (5-7 days a week for several hours) and I love them. The reason why it's 4 stars is because over time, the noise isolation isn't as good and the left ear bud seems quieter than the right. Overall great product for everything.

Rating

Nickname

Joseph

Summary

Cable Failure in 6-7 months

Location

Dubai, UAE

Posted on

5/8/2015

Recommended?

Yes

I purchased the Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones in October 2014. Great sound and very happy with them. My only disappointment is that the cables are already defective for the right earphone. I just placed an order and am purchasing a braided style cable. I am hoping that this cable will last more than 6 months!!

Rating

Nickname

T

Summary

Great sound & construction, but terrible cables

Location

Chicago, IL

Posted on

1/2/2015

Recommended?

Yes

I bought these to replace my older Westone 1 series which gave out after 3 years of abuse. I had a hard time deciding between the ADV and the W10, but I ultimately went with the ADV due to its bassy signature reviews. Overall I’m extremely happy with the sound quality and the driver construction. I’m able to wear it for long periods of time with no discomfort. They saved my sanity on a 14 hour flight with a crying baby! However, my major gripe with the ADV is the connector cable. It’s quite thick and far too long for my short frame (5’1”) and I can never quite get the cable to stay over my ear, especially when wearing sunglasses. The smart phone controls is a nice touch, but completely unnecessary for me and kind of a hassle to deal with when working out. I still think they are a good deal for the price, but I really wish Westone offered a non-smart phone version of the ADV. 4 stars for the sound quality 2 stars for the cable construction 5 stars for Earphone Solutions customer service!

Bought these to replace my Westone 4s which I use on planes and while running. Can't fault the sound quality and ambient noise cancelling (although I'm not an audiophile, so make of that what you will). And once I got past how weird I sounded when using these to talk on the phone, they work pretty well for calls (although I have to hold the mic up to my mouth to prevent the ambient noise overwhelming my talking). However, I'm disappointed that unlike my previous pair, the physical construction on these doesn't quite work for me when running. The soft over-ear loops don't stay behind my ears, even when I try to pin them down with sunglasses. The cable is very long — mind you I am 5'4" — and so gets caught in my hands a bit as it bounces around. It does bounce around a lot because there's no clip on it to keep it close to my clothes. So maybe look for another pair if you're not 6' tall and like running. :-) PS – Like David from Sydney, I think Earphone Solutions are absolutely the best, even though they're in another country. Will never buy earphones off anyone else again.

Merchant Response:

Gracias Abraham!

Rating

Nickname

Jay

Summary

Tough piece of gear

Location

Hawaii

Posted on

9/2/2014

Recommended?

Yes

The earpiece was a tough little piece of gear, with a nice looks to it. Unfortunately the only thing I can really compare it to is the westone 3 that I have and for lack of better words... The westone 3 is just flat out better and probably as tough. But I have ran in the rain with the adv without a worry. I'm not the biggest fans of the cable however strong it is for its purpose... They tangled and I did spend some time untangling it everytime I used it. Sound? If you never tried a higher end earpiece before I'm sure you will find it delightful, it will give u very good bass and clear sounds. As you can see I'm not an audiophile, I'm just a Marine who likes nice things, and music is very important to me, if your intention is durability and good music for everyday active situation like running, gym etc this is for u. However... If you're ever curious about music nirvana.. Go westone 3 or higher... Get a proper seal and it will be like a whole new world for you.. It's an unbelievable experience shared between you and the music you love.. I'm making my purchase for a westone w50 and I'll be reviewing that too, thanks for reading my rant!

Rating

Nickname

David

Summary

Good Quality

Location

Sydney, Australia

Posted on

6/27/2014

Recommended?

Yes

First of all can I just say that Earphone solutions is by far the BEST PLACE to buy earphones from! I live in Sydney and travel to the US yearly. I've ordered from the site before but this time I had them delivered to my address in the US and long story short the package was lost. Earphones went above and beyond to help me resolve my issues and sufficed to say I now have my earphones! Now for the review on the Westones. My first thought was that these were not as good as my Shure 215's. But that was because I had not properly squeezed the tips enough before placing them in my ear to form the right seal. Once that was done the sound quality (for the price range) is wonderful! Clear and with a good amount of bass. These will definitely be replacing my Shure's when working out - especially due to my concern with sweat while i work out. That being said... i still think my 215's are slightly better... but you really wouldnt notice the difference. I also really like the fact that these come with the microphone/remote which the 215's dont. For my first set of westones i'm very happy with the purchase and again highly recommend Earphone solutions to anyone looking to buy!

Rating

Nickname

Robert Spiker

Summary

Great, highly recommended

Location

Tidewater, Virginia

Posted on

6/19/2014

Recommended?

Yes

I liked my pair I purchased last Black Friday so much I bought a second pair for my son. I have purchased Bose, Shure and other high end ear buds, these are by far my favorite. Sound quality, comfort and durability are excellent. Windows Phone users will be happy to know that the mic works with the phone and Cortana. (Although the volume control and button does not work work audio playback.)

Rating

Nickname

Bob

Summary

controls stopped working

Location

Mobile

Posted on

6/7/2014

Recommended?

Yes

Bought these when they first came out and was satisfied with them. Had the old style UM1's and replaced them with these to use with my iphone. Now the buttons have stopped working. Can't answer phone, change volume, or change songs. Not sure what has happened. Sounds was great and fit wasn't quite as good as the UM1's but for exercise or working in yard they were very good. Hope warranty is still good so I can get them replaced.

Merchant Response:

Hi Bob. if you bought these from us pleae send us an email and we will make sure your warranty replacement will be processed. Please email us at support@earphonesolutions.com We apologize for this inconvenience.

Rating

Nickname

Nathan

Summary

Very Good But A Bit Expensive for the Sound Quality

Location

Ohio

Posted on

5/23/2014

Recommended?

Yes

I've been using these while running, and they're very good for that. So far, I've found the Alpha ADV earphones to be durable and to have plenty of sound quality. They're a little too bass-heavy, but it's not like I need the audiophile abilities of my SE846s while concentrating on my foot cadence, posture, and pace. I use the STAR tips, because I can use them over and over, and even pull them out for a second whenever necessary, without worrying about squeezing some foam before inserting or swear degrading the foam. I've never found any other silicone tips that have the fit of the STAR tips. So far, I like the fabric-covered cord, and the in-line remote works great. If the sound were a little better or if these were somewhat cheaper, they'd be worthy of 5 stars. As they are, they're the best overall workout earphones I've used, and I'd recommend them.

Rating

Nickname

Samuel

Summary

Awesome Earphones, Perfect for Travel

Location

Springville, Utah

Posted on

5/5/2014

Recommended?

Yes

These headphones are fantastic. The bass response is great and the sound isolation on perfect. I've had several stewardesses have to tap on my shoulder because I couldn't here them asking what I wanted to drink. I love selection of tips as well. I think there's 8 different sets in foam and 8 in rubber. If you've never used in ear headphones, give your ears some time to get used to them. It took me about 3 times wearing them to adjust and find the right tips. A lot of reviewers have complained about the braided cable, but so far I haven't had any problems with it. I haven't worked out with these headphones though. I have an Android phone and all the in-line controls work except for volume. The mic works too. The case is nice and rugged. Sometimes I have a hard time screwing the cap back on, but other than that its perfect. One reviewer said the case is too small, but if you wrap the earphones loosely around your hand, then put them in the case, they fit perfectly. Finally, I used to have the Shure SE530's. Comparatively, these fit very much the same. There's definitely more base, and just a bit less detail, but overall, very well done! Pros: Bass, Size, Fit, Isolation, Overall Response, Case, In-line Mic Cons: The one very minor complaint I have is the portion of the cable that wraps around your ear isn't very moldable. It's stiffer than the rest of the cable, but I wish I could shape it.

Rating

Nickname

Gary

Summary

Comprehensive Review

Location

Pacific Northwest

Posted on

5/5/2014

Recommended?

Yes

I enjoy listening to music through these earphones very much, like the comfortable fit in my ears, and plan to keep them for a long time. I meant comprehensive in the concise or "Sometime less is more" sense.

Rating

Nickname

Nick

Summary

Highly recommend this product

Location

Tampa, Florida

Posted on

12/29/2013

Recommended?

Yes

Unparalleled attention to detail and design of this product from the foam earplugs, driver and housing to the wire cable that plugs into your audio source. I have owned many Westone products and have been very pleased with their reliability and sound quality. There is no doubt that the Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones will live up to their heritage. I highly recommend this product without reservation. Only criticism being, unlike my Westone UM3X RC the Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones are not made in the USA. Pros: Design and build quality. Excellent sound. Compact size. Cons:

Rating

Nickname

Ed Pettersen

Summary

Shockingly great and versatile

Location

Nashville, TN

Posted on

12/25/2013

Recommended?

Yes

I've purchased a few in ear headphones, as I call them, over the years and I own the Shure 215's (also bought at Earphone Solutions) and a few lesser models. These Aplha ADV are just simply fantastic with rich bass (but not too deep IMO) and clean, open highs and clear throughout the rest of the frequency spectrum. I'm a professional musician and for the sale price I bought these at I'm simply shocked how great they were out of the box and I'm very picky about sound (my preferred choice for home listening is still vinyl for three dimensionality and full spectrum sound). How good are they? Last year I bought a pair of the top of the line Westones (or were they just under the top??) and returned them because they weren't drastically better than my Shure's. Yes, I know they supposedly need break in period, blah, blah, blah but I don't have time for that spending half the year on the road touring. BUT...these Alpha ADV's were better, IMO, right out of the box. Maybe they just sound that way via my iPod sound source. Whatever. They just sound great and I'm extremely pleased. Best audio purchase I've made in a long time and the added bonus of being "adventure" oriented, which I have yet to test but will, is another plus for someone as active as myself who takes part in several sports, gym workouts and hiking. The only minus, and this is a small matter because I am getting used to them, are the "ear hooks" or whatever they call them that Westone uses that go around the ear to hold the earphones in place. A bit strange at first but I think I will eventually dig it. P.S.-I also dig that the earphones can detach at the era bud if the cable gets yanked. Something my Shures didn't have as an option when I ordered them four years ago. Pros: Great sound out of the box, detachable earbuds, great cable. Cons: Ear hooks.

Rating

Nickname

GianCarlos

Summary

Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones one of the best

Location

PR

Posted on

12/8/2013

Recommended?

Yes

A very excellent sound with very clear highs and lots of bass not super boom boom boom. The focus on these earphones are the ups and downs of the music. They make the listening experience like I'm in front of my stereo "wow". In my opinion, if you are listening to House Music Reggae Rock or Lounge then get these. If you are listening to jazz, classical guitar, or musicals, get the Westone 3. These Westones and the Westones 3 are of comparable quality, but with different focuses. Pros: Sound Cons: The wax filters I didn't see any replacements for purchase it but women silk socks cut a little piece and you will have a wax filter

Rating

Nickname

David

Summary

Many compromises, but still good overall

Location

Hillsboro, OR

Posted on

12/4/2013

Recommended?

Yes

I have been a Westone user for a long time. I have enjoyed my UM1s for years and even had them refurbished by Westone when the right side went out. I tried the TS1s for use with my iPhone but they were awful (bad echoing problem) so when the ADVs came out I was a little hesitant to try out another microphoned set of earphones from Westone. Overall after 6 months, I am pretty happy with the ADVs, but they are far from perfect. Sonically they are very nice. I really don't care for either the pre-molded over-the-ear sections because they tangle like hell when you uncoil them from their carrying case, and they don't stay over your ear as well as the soft braided cable of the UM1s. The other problem with the cable is it makes a lot of noise rubbing against the fabric of just about any shirt you wear. The mic and volume controls work very well, much better than any other microphoned earphones I have tried. If they put braided cables back on these and removed the pre-formed ear section, it would get 5 stars. Pros: Nice sound Great microphone and volume controls Cons: Cable get tangled very easily Cable makes a lot of noise when rubbing against your body/shirt Over the ear section does not fit well (for me) and also causes terrible tangles when removing from case

Rating

Nickname

Paul

Summary

Very, very decent earphones

Location

Washington, DC

Posted on

9/2/2013

Recommended?

Yes

Rich sound. I am trying to compare it with my other earphones, Shure SE215. Maybe, Shure is a little more... natural? But these sound pretty formidable overall. The cable is great looking and feeling, but not extremely friendly when it comes to tangles. Fit is almost perfect, except I could definitely use some kind of cinch (similar to that the Shure has) to tighten the cable somewhere under my chin while working out, just to keep those wires behind my ears. But I guess you can't have it both ways: the controls and the cinch. Just physically they would be somewhere on the same spot. Anyway, it's just a matter of getting used to. The controls work great. Calls are crystal clear, for me and for those on the other side. The bottom line: it's the best deal for the money I found to have both a great sound and that remote control thing Pros: Sound, looks, build quality, materials Cons: Cable (takes a little getting used to)

Rating

Nickname

Rich

Summary

Great sound, compact package

Location

Austin, Texas

Posted on

8/31/2013

Recommended?

Yes

Love these headphones which I received as a gift. Not an audiophile, so my basis of comparison is two extremes. First, standard iPod earbuds and second Bose qc15 over the ear headphones. I use headphones in two situations - exercising and traveling. What impresses me about the adv is that they sound nearly as "full" as the Bose. I used the advs on a recent trip and was impressed by the sound isolation provided by the tips. It cancelled jet noise almost as well as the active cancellation of the Bose. This will great on long haul flights to be able to wear these comfortably when sleeping on a flight which isnt really possible with the Bose. Obviously these completely blow away the standard iPhone earbuds except to say that I never realized small headphones could sound so good until i listened to the advs. using them for mobile phone calls is also great. Super gift to have received. Unlike other reviewers, I'm not bothered at all by the cord. Pros: Sound quality Fit Noise isolation Cons:

Rating

Nickname

iK

Summary

Not sweat proof

Location

Ashburn, VA

Posted on

8/31/2013

Recommended?

No

I loved these earphones. The fit is superb and the deep bass is perfect for running and biking. I actually prefer the sound over my westone 3 because when I'm running or biking it's harder to hear the lower frequencies, but not with these. So why 2 stars? Well, just after two weeks the volume up button on the remote has failed. I'm guessing it's from sweating onto the remote. Other folks have had similar issues. I'm not sure how good the seal between the cable and the earpiece is either since I can clearly see gold metal where they come together, which would mean it's not sealed. Pros: Cons:

Rating

Nickname

Jason

Summary

Good, but room for improvement

Location

Redwood City, CA

Posted on

7/27/2013

Recommended?

No

One ear of my UM1 earphones stopped working after 6 years of ownership. I bought these as a replacement as I wanted a bit of an upgrade over the entry level UM1s. I was thinking about the UM2s, but I saw that the ADVs had just come out, were designed to be used by active listeners, and were $100 cheaper. Given that my primary use for these would be the gym, I thought this would be a better fit and I'd give them a try. In general, I like the sound of these over my old UM1s. Since my UM1s stopped working, I can't do a direct comparison, but I feel like I'm hearing things that I couldn't hear before with the UM1s. That said, there's slightly too much bass for my liking and these only really sound good when played loud. Initial impressions were that they sounded "dark". After a number of hours they do seem to have cleaned up a bit, but there's still a lot of bass and the mids can be muddled. On some tracks, having a lot of bass sounds awesome, but again, only if played pretty loud. My biggest complaint about these is the cable. I hate it. It's covered with a reflective cloth which I can hear when it rubs against my ear or clothes. It's completely annoying, especially given that these are made for active listeners. The cord bounces all over the place when I'm at the gym! The cord clip helps a little, but not completely and I wish I didn't need a clip at all. I do like the iPod controls which are great for controlling my iPod shuffle, but I really wish these had the braided cable of the UM series which I could never hear when it rubbed against me. I get that the reflective cable is nice for visibility for outdoor runners, but I never use mine outside. Another complaint is that that case these come with seems to be too small. It takes me forever to try to wrap the cord in such a way that I can get everything to fit inside the case and not squish the foam tips when I screw the case shut. I've pretty much given up and just wrap the cord around a cable wrap called "wrapster" I found. They'd be better protected in a case though. Speaking of protection, while I love the magnesium unibody construction, my iPod shuffle must have rubbed against one of the earphones while in my gym bag pocket because there's a little scratch on one now where the paint has come off. It's on the inner part that goes against your ear so I'm pretty sure it didn't happen when I was wearing them. This wouldn't have happened with the plastic UM series (or if the case were big enough to store them in there easily). I've contacted Westone many times before for recommendations for myself (for the original UM1s) and for gifts for friends of mine. They've always responded right away and have been very helpful. I contacted them about my complaints of the ADV series a number of weeks ago now and haven't heard back. I was mostly curious if there was going to be a new cable available for purchase anytime soon. So, while I do think the sound of these earphones is better than my old UM1s, part of me wishes I would've just bought another pair of UM1s for the gym and saved some money, or splurged on the UM2s. If I end up buying a new case and a replacement cable (if a braided version is released) for the ADV that'll add up to almost the cost of the UM2s anyway. Pros: -Sound (on loud songs meant to have a lot of bass). -Look, design, color -iPod controls on cable Cons: -Sound (on quiet songs) -Cable noise -Case is too small -Scratches easily

Rating

Nickname

tb

Summary

Good sound, comfortable, convenient

Location

Vancouver, BC

Posted on

7/8/2013

Recommended?

Yes

I have owned the Westone UM1s and the 1s. These sound a little cleaner and crisper than I remember those being. My last pair of phones previous to these were the Shure SE215s and I much prefer these in terms of comfort and sound quality. As mentioned in another review, the bass is a little high, but it's not sloppy or distorted. For some types of music I actually prefer it, though you may find you need to EQ it down. Hopefully these will be a little more durable than the previous Wetsones I've owned, which seem to give out after about a year, but I guess only time will tell. (Side note: my experience with Westone's customer service has been very good in the past.) Also love the fact they come with an iPhone remote. As with the other Westones I've owned, when the cable rubs against your clothes, the vibration is audible. Pros: - sound quality - hopefully will be durable - includes iPhone remote Cons: - noise from cable rubbing against clothes - bass is a little high

Rating

Nickname

Ed

Summary

Adventures not required to enjoy

Location

25% Less Toxic Waste, NJ

Posted on

7/3/2013

Recommended?

Yes

Bought these half on a whim - a very old set of IEMs had died and I needed to replace them at some point, and I have a set of Westone ES5 customs that I absolutely love. I figured coming from Westone, they couldn't be awful. They are FAR from awful - in fact are one of the more enjoyable universal IEMs I've ever owned. Not bass shy, but not over-bumped; they don't roll off and muffle the highs, but aren't so crisply precise that poorly engineered compressed music is painful to listen to. (With my ES5s, a lot of my iTunes library is unlistenable, you can hear how badly the compression mucked things up.) Basically, they're musical, accurate, and forgiving. My ear canals are universal IEM unfriendly, tall flat oval shaped, which means good seals are uncomfortable, poor seals comfortable. These really benefit from a good seal. The silicone are very comfortable but for me a poor seal; with the foam, I couldn't hear a jet engine, and these earphones sound wonderful - but I can only wear them for a couple hours. That's my problem, not the earphones, but these are now my travel earphones for short trips and for yardwork power tools. If you want accurate and musical, these are for you. Pros: Great sound across the range Kind to compressed music, great with HD music Over the ear design great for active use Cloth covered cord is silent, seems to tangle less Cons: No better (or worse) for comfort than any other universal IEM

Rating

Nickname

Mike

Summary

Now my "go-to" phones!

Location

Michigan

Posted on

7/1/2013

Recommended?

Yes

These have replaced just about everything--BlueAnt, Shure and Yurbuds! I was very apprehensive about being among the first to purchase these without any reviews to study. I'm no audiophile, but these are the best sounding earphones I own! They have kicked my SE215s to the curb. For running and biking I used the Ironman's, but I would constantly have to readjust them as they fell/popped out. The ADV are rock solid, with the stock tips. I usually have to play around with the tips to get the right fit. They STAY in! I had a Q2 for commuting. But that was just mono. Now I have stereo & can return calls! Sometimes I have to hold the mic closer to my face, but the sound is clear to others. For me, the price was on my upper limits, especially after reading reviews that said to buy cheap buds, because they break anyways. But I've found these to be very durable and well built. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you're active and want something that finally stays put with no fuss and sound great, these are the earphones for you! Pros: Stay put, wrap around design, SOUND, Low profile look, Quality cord Cons: Would like a sliding cable sleeve to make adjustments (but don't let that stop you)

Rating

Nickname

Tom

Summary

Fantastic with reservations

Location

Philadelphia

Posted on

6/14/2013

Recommended?

Yes

I have owned almost every Westone universal product, including the UM3X and W4, and in the end decided they were nice but didn't represent value in my mind. I am not slamming them, not at all. I just thought the higher end Westones were too expensive for what I got from them. Along the way, I also bought a pair of custom sleeves, UM56s, and since I no long had any Westones (or other thin nozzled in-ear phones) around, I decided to give the ADVs a try. After all, it is Westone's first foray into dynamic drivers. I had read about the overly pronounced bass, their warm sound. But decided to try them anyway, especially to see how they paired up with the UM56 sleeves.
Now these are strictly for on the go use, not sitting around at home. For that, I have other options. I wanted a second pair of on the go phones to use with my JH5 Pro custom phones, which have an iPhone cable. The ADVs are not really in the same league as the JH5 Pros, but even with my brief audition so far (one day), I have to say they are very very good.
This is where the reservations come in. For one thing, I am not a purist, so I will engage an EQ app on my iPhone. Currently I find Accudio the best one for shaping sound (I have like 5-6 EQ apps in all). With some tweaking, I can trim back the bass and bring out the mids/treble on the ADVs with ease. They still retain their warm sound (no sibilance at all, even with some of the freqs I ehnhanced), yet they sound very detailed, not warm or mushy (like some other in-ears I have tried that were known for their warm sound).
I also realize that this is still the honeymoon period, and writing a review on such an early impression can be a mistake. But I don't think so, since my ears do recognize the type of sound they like pretty quickly in most cases. I have made mistakes, many mistakes, in buying and trying headphones. But when you combine the form factor (excellent comfort) with the tweakability of the ADVs, it's been very good so far.
Apart from basic sound and the need to shape it, my main gripe is the cable. I sure hope that Westone is going to offer a braided cable with iPhone controls as an option on the ADV. I don't want a plain braided cable, obviously, since these are touted and sold as active phones. I can live with the cloth cable, but I am not a fan. Just something about it bugs me. The ADVs sound very good with their Star tips and other tips, but to me, they really come alive with the UM56s. Not saying you should spend $135 or whatever the UM56 costs these days on the ADVs. Just glad I already had them here to try out. They have finally found a partner in sound, I think.
I rated them four stars because they need to be EQ'd (in my view) to sound their best and because I don't care for the cloth cable.
If Westone made them with a braided iPhone cable and tuned them just a wee bit differently, they would be a fantastic value at $199 in my view. As it stands, so far, they are a very good alternative for an on the go phone.
If you are like me and will use EQ, then the ADV is a nice option for the price. If you are a purist, I guess I would say stay away. Of course, I have yet to really run them in (will do that for the next 2-3 days) and the sound may change to a more even level in terms of bass vs. mids/treble, but no matter since I already have my workaround in place.
Pros: Comfort, basic sound (with caveats), accessory selection, design/style.
Cons: A bit too bassy/warm out of the box (but fixable for me) and not a fan of the cable.

Questions on Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones

Will these earphones stand up to intense sweating of gym workouts? Am looking for good quality pair that can withstand the intensity of the gym.

Thank you

asked by Doug Ogden

A.

Tech Support answered:

Dear Doug,
Yes, even though we have not tested these ourselves, Westone developed this model with that idea in mind - to withstand those gruesome workouts and other adverse conditions ;-)

Q.

Cross-Over? Cross-Over is a real sound system term, should not be used in describing drivers that don't have one. Seams tech specs for this item are missing too. This is a single one way system, correct?

asked by David

A.

Tech Support answered:

Dear David,
The Alpha is a dynamic driver. The information we have on the site is provided by the manufacturer. We have received the product today and we were able to add the specs to its page.
We believe "crossover" was not used as a technical term here; it refers more to the fact that Westone was able to deliver high sound quality in a model that is rugged and affordable, two styles that do not usually go together within the industry.

Q.

Ok I get that these are well made and have detachable over ear cables, but why $200 for a single driver system?

asked by Cisco McGregor

A.

Tech Support answered:

Our guess is because it brings some innovations to the market. The earpiece is not made of 2 shells glued together - it's one piece. It is weather resistant; it will handle moisture better than other in ears. The cables are reflective which is a good idea when you workout outside, at night. And the bass is tight!

Q.

are these oriented towards bass? whats the advantage of micro dynamic drivers apart from that they take up less space? How does the bass quantity and quality compare to westone 3?

asked by Ram

A.

Tech Support answered:

Yes, these have powerful bass but they also provide a surprising amount of clarity, specially on the mid-range and vocals. I personally use the W3 because of its detail and clarity but I found the bass on these to be more "fun".

Q.

Exactly how "extended" is the bass? I'm not looking for nicely balanced audiophile sound - I want more bass when I workout as I like to run to the rhytm. Further, I listen to electronic music exclusively where bass is important.

Compared to a pair of say, Shure SE215's, more or less bass?

asked by LW

A.

Tech Support answered:

Dear Customer,
To be honest, we did an A - B comparison and it is hard to quantify; both dynamic drivers offer a good amount of bass, making up a "fun" sound. Personally, the ADV is more comfortable than the SE215 because it is smaller. The ADV does offer more bass than the UM1 and W1 for instance but it is not extended like the Super.fi 5EB by Ultimate Ears used to be.

Q.

How will these stand up against a lot of sweat that manages to seep into the ear canal?

asked by James

A.

Tech Support answered:

Dear James,
These were designed to withstand moisture a lot better than regular in-ear monitors. Unfortunately we have not tested them in such extreme circumstances so we cannot give you a firm answer. We have evaluated them for their sound and the mic/controls which are all positive.

Q.

Will there be a replacement cable without the remote?

asked by michael

A.

Tech Support answered:

Yes. It should be available before or during summer of 2014.

Q.

is the 3 button control also water resistant?

asked by Darrell

A.

Tech Support answered:

Yes, but they cannot be immersed in water, just like the earphones themselves.

Q.

is there a new model available ?

asked by Andy

A.

Tech Support answered:

No, this is the same ADV that was recently released. Westone is releasing a new line of earphones, the UMPRO series (UMPRO 10, UMPRO 20 and UMPRO 30) and the W10, W20, W30 and W40.

Q.

How is the fit on this product? Is comfort comparable to the Weston 1's?

asked by Matthew

A.

Tech Support answered:

Yes, they are smaller than the other Westone models and very comfortable.

Q.

Are the SDV's loud enough ? The sensitivity is listed at only 97dB. I have the UM3X and UM2 which are both about 120dB and definitely loud enough. However the Shure 215's are listed at 107dB and I wish they were a little louder. If they aren't even as loud as the Shures, I don't think I want them.

asked by Jim

A.

Tech Support answered:

We didn't have any problem powering them with the iPhone - they were loud enough.

Q.

Hi. I am having a look on this product. But I am wondering if the remote works fine with android Galaxy S4 ?
Micro, up and down volum, call, next/previous song ...

Thx for your next answer.

asked by C

A.

Tech Support answered:

I have not used used these headphones with the Galaxy S4,
but I can tell you the behavior on the following Android devices:
Nexus 7 (ASUS Device)
Nexus 4 (LG Device)
Nexus 5 (LG Device)

is there a local store i can find the Adventure Alpha ADV Earphones, providence, ri?

asked by john

A.

Tech Support answered:

Dear John,

We are an online dealer only, we do not know of any local dealers in your area. You can purchase the ADV with us and if you are not happy, you can either return them for a refund or for an exchange. Please take a moment to read our Return Policy:http://www.earphonesolutions.com/returns.html

Q.

Is the connector long enough to fit through a substantial iPhone case; i.e. Lunatik?

asked by geoffrey

A.

Tech Support answered:

The connector (metal and plastic sections put together) is 1 inch long. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee these will fit since there are so many different cases/models.

Q.

Do these work with the iPhone 6 Plus? Looking for something with good bass. I like the W10 model too.

asked by Joshua Gold

A.

Tech Support answered:

Yes, these come with the standard 3.5 mm jack and will work with the iPhone 6 Plus.
The Alpha ADV offers a vibrant bass.